Lewis Katz: 'Life is meant to have as much fun as you can conjure up'

Those were the famous words of Lewis Katz, an American businessman, philanthropist and newspaper publisher who died in a fiery plane crash May 31 in Massachusetts.

I had the honor of meeting Katz on a few occasions as he was on the board at Temple University, my alma mater, and spoke in several of my classes. Katz, born in 1942, was a friend to Temple. He was a beloved alum, board member and donor.

He was a friend to newspapers. Days before his death, he bought the Philadelphia Inquirer for $88 million in hopes of revitalizing it.

He was a friend to sports. He owned the New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils professional teams at one point. Shane Victorino and Dikembe Mutombo considered him a mentor.

He was a philanthropist. He donated $25 million to Temple and $15 million to Penn State. He had his hand in several local businesses and charities.

He was a friend to Philly and Camden, New Jersey. He grew up poor in gritty Camden and pulled himself out. He rubbed elbows with some of the country's elites and with some poor, college kids in North Philadelphia.

Katz was a friend to anyone who would approach him.

About 1,400 people attended Katz's public memorial in the same hall where I walked across the stage only 5 months ago to graduate. Former presidents, governors, senators, friends, families, students and Temple's own Bill Cosby mourned and spoke of Katz's selfless life work. It didn't matter if you were a lowly college freshman or a former U.S. president -- he once played Nerf basketball with President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office -- you would get the same grace and attention from Katz.

Katz would tell anyone who would listen to seize each day, appreciate your time, help those in need and love your family unconditionally. He had an energy about him that simply radiated. Just being around him would make you want to match his energy and devotion but that was simply impossible.

“He never forgot people who started, as he did, with nothing," Clinton said during the memorial ceremony. "It bothered him that anybody with any dream would be left out or left behind.”

Speakers at his memorial told stories of how would tip waitresses $100, give Super Bowl tickets to a coffee shop worker, help a single mother pay bills, promise to pay tuition for a college student who couldn't afford it and donate millions to his alma mater or charity.

Katz wanted everyone around him to feel success, achieve success and share his excitement and appreciation for life every day.

This article will not do Katz justice. No article or memorial will be enough. But like Cosby said: "Lewis Katz lives in what you do to the gifts that were given to you . . . You will treat these gifts as gifts, not something to be thrown in the trash.”